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Sunday, April 16, 2017

The last live firing of the long range Meteor Missile was performed by the Rafale B301 on April, 6 2017
This 4th test concludes the integration of the Missile on the Rafale.
The CEAM will now have the responsability to write the operational procedures for using it.

The Meteor is expected to enter operational service with the French Air Force and Navy in 2018 on the new Rafale F3R standard.

Paris, March 22nd 2017, French defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that he had authorized the development of the Rafale F4 standard.
The first Rafale F4 should be delivered in 2025 but some of the features of this new version will be available as early as 2023.

The key improvements would be the following:

Improved net-centric capabilities (New data links, satcom)

RBE-2 AESA upgrade

SPECTRA upgrade

OSF IRST (New IR channel for the OSF)

M88 engine upgrade (AB thrust > 8 T)

Mica NG missile integration

AASM missile upgrade

Le Drian also confirmed that a 5th production tranche should be ordered during the next LPM (Multi-year military procurement plan)

Thursday, July 14, 2016

The super-Etendard has been officialy retired on July 12th 2016 after 38 years of active service in the French Navy (42 years since its first flight)
To celebrate this (sad) event, Angel offers us this beautiful homage to the sailors who served on this superb machine.
It is worth noting that the retirement of the Super-Etendard happened the same month as the very first trials of the nEUROn UCAV with the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier...

From now on, the only fighter jet operated by the French Navy is the Rafale M F3.